Stop mechanism for knitting-machines.



LF. B.`WILDI\/IAN & G. L. BALLARD. -STOP MECHANISM FOR K'NITTING MACHINES.

`APPLICATION FILED MAR. I, 1913- Patented June 22, 1919r Imam Ill l F. B. WILDMAN &GI. L. BALLARD. STOP MECHANISM FORKNHTING MACHINES.v

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APPLICATION FILED MAR-1, 1913.

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- residing at rone LAWSON BALLARD, 0J." NUERISTOVVN, PENNSYL- MFG. C0., A CORPORATION 01? PENNSYLVANIA.

snor arrestanten. non mimmo-MACHINES.

"sperimenta of Letters raient.

Patented J une 22, 1915.

Application led March 7, 1913. Serial No. 752,797.

To au whom zt may] conoeml' Be it Aknown that we, FRANK B. WILQMAN and GEORGE Lawson BALLARD, the former aI citizen of the United States and. the latter a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, both (Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certainn'ew and unsefuldniprovementsin Stop ltlechanism for Knitting-Machines, ofwhicli the following is a speciation.

The invention' concerns in its best leto particularly Aadapted for ,use in connection with the"dogless form of fixed cylinder and dial' circular knitting machine, sucl1,"for instance, as is shown in Letters Patent of theUnited States, granted toG. L. Ballard #1012966, December` 26, 1911, though it willlbe understood that some features of ourinvention may'be applied to other types otmachines'. V

Une robject of our invention 1s to provlde a 'let-off which'will operate to stop the machinewhen eiher the overhead stop motion,

0r. the needle 'fo-@fior .iS Operated The ,invention consists in thefeatures and combination and arrangement ofv parts here ihafter described and particularly polnted out in the claims.. l

yln the accompanying drawings Figure 1- is a fronty Viewzoi a circular knitting machine, of the doglesstype, with the present i' improvexnents applied thereto.

is a Asectional View ofthe dogless head `Fi 2 is ging. a ishowing, however, in [side elevation a portion of the .knitting head. Fig. 4 1s a deta1l-sectional View of thedog'less head substantially on the line of, Fig'. 2. Fig. 5 1s a View of a detaihof, a. part of .the let-oil' connec tion.

In these drawings, 1 is the box,Y and the rotary dial cap,l i to which the needle `dial d is attached, 5 is the fixed needle cylinder. frame or plate 6. having a hub 7 surrounding the dial post is formed with or Afixed to the yoke arms 8, attached to thefp'osts 9, supported on the revolving earn box, l This plate carries the thread guides yconsisting in the particular construction shownof theopenmgs 10.

a plan view. Fig, 2B' is a detail.

rotary cam 3 is the post 'Surrounding the-rotating plate 6. and supapplincction with the fixed frame may vary, but in the particular construction shown, we employ an arni 12, Figs. 2 and 3, extending therefrom to a post or shaft 14C mounted in the bracket 15, suitably attached to the fixed base of thc machine.` The arm l2 bears against the top of the post or shaft and prevents the ring or frame ll from rotatingI with the knitting head, the direction of rotation of the latter being* indicated by the arrow X. For purposes of adjustment of the ring in relation to the dial post, dial and cylinder, the arm 12 is connected with the ringl pivotally at 16, and stop bolts 17 adjusted in ears 18 of ,the arm l2 bear on the/ring. The dial post is attached to this fixed ringr by sliding locking dogs 19, though we show `these merely by way of example. These dogs slide in recesses 20 of the depending rim of a plate or cap piece 21, which is keyed at 22 to the dial post. A cap 23 screwed on the hub of the cap plate furnishes a support for the dial post, a pin or pins 24 thereon bearing on the cap. l i

The sliding dogs are retracted in succession Vto allow the thread to pass in revolving with the knitting head, and for this purpose the dogs have depending pins 25 entering" a cam groove or depending into position to be acted on by the camsA 26 forming said cam groove. When the dogs are all the way out they engage notches 27 in the ring 11, and thus they form the connection between the fixed frame ring 11 and the dial post to hold the latter against rotation while thc needle cams rotate. 'VVhen, however, the cams 26, which are fixed to the rotating plate 6, arrive at one of the locking dogs, this is forced radially inward,

leaving an opening between its end and the fixed ring through which the thread which revolves with the machine opening being indicated at l0', and 10 indicating' the thread guide opening through the cam piece which registers with the thread guide opening lO of the plate 6. The revolving bobbin stand 28 has its ring 28' supported by )the `fixed cap plate 2l, said 'ing beingpinned at 28 to the plate 6, "i 2.

All of the parts above described are substantially the same as those disclosed in the patent above referred to, they being described herein as an example of one-type of machine to which the invention may be applied. Parts of our resent invention have been devised particu]p tion or combination with parts of the dogless head above described, as will appear in the following description. We wish it iinderstood that while a part ofoiir present invention, in oneaspect, relates to 'this association o combination, we do notliinit ourselves in this respect except as set forth in some of the appended claims, and we willy moved circuin erentially when the thread fails or breaks or when a snarl or bunch oecurs at the needles by a dog 31 pivoted in a stud 32 projecting from the revolving bobbin stand ring 28. Normally this dog rests by gravity or is spring held in the position shown in Fig. 4. It is moved downwardly to engage any one of the studs 29* on the let olf ring when operated either by the rotary rod 33 leading tothe overhead stop motion or by the slldingrod 34 leading to the nee dle detector 35.

When this engagement takes place the let olf ring is moved circumferentially because the dog is carried by the revolving bobbin stand, and one of its projections 29 lwill now operate the arm 36, which through the connections hereinafter described,`wil oper-.ite the let off clutch, if such form of let off is used. The rock shaft or rod 33 is mounted in the -revolving bobbin stand and' it has fixed to its lower end an arm 37 having a in and slot connection (Fig. 2) with a. ro 38 slidably mounted in the bobbin stand, and which when moved lradially outward will operate the dog 31 as above described, to cause the rotary movement of the let ofi' ring. The arm 37 is provided with a handle by which the overhead sto motion may be reset.

he needle detector comprises a depending finger 35 ivotally mounted at 39 to th bracket 40 Xed on the dial cap and conneted by a link 41 with an arm 42 mounted on a shaft 43, joiirnaled in the bracket Fi'g. 3, said shaft being under tension of a spring 44. This spring tends to turn the arm 42 downwardly, but when the is upright, as shown in Fig. 1, the relation of the pivots ofdetector link and arm are such that the detector will remain in this position until its lower end strikes an obstruction siich as a bunch, snarl or bent needle When-its lower end will swing leftward carrying the upper piyot 49 to the right so arly for their associa' detector finger.

that the spring :will new act and complete the movement of the detector and this will cause the arm 50, fired on the shaft 43 to rise and lift the rod 34 resulting in throwiig the dog 31 into engagement with the let oring 29. The rod 34 is carriedby the revolving parts of the head. It may be here stated that with a dogless form of knit'- ting' head the let oli' ring is immediately combined with the frame ring 11, forming a of said head, but where the invention part lied to a different type of machine the is ap let o ring may be otherwise mounted ona suitably fixed upper frame member. As an instance of anot er type of machine with which the invention may be used,.we would mention that one in which "dogs are ein-v ployed'between the needle cylinder anddia'l.

Referring now A to the left otf'devi'ce, 1'. ve.the eliitch'xvhen siicli is used, these i'ncli'idev the rock shaft 51 n pressed by a sp1-ing 52, so that a. stop arm 53v shaft, will y on the head 54.xed tofthe said bear normally against a stop rpin 55,'Fig.2- and maintain the earm 36 in the position to the,connecticnsleading shown. The rock shaft 51 isnioiint'ed. in a;

bracket 56 fixed to .thebase of theinachine;

The head 54 carries a pin' 57 which overf lies a latch 53, pivoted to the bracket por-- tion 56. This latch restrains Vthe aini'59,

pivotally mounted on the bracket 'at-60, and

iinder tension of a spring 61. vr1`he arm at its outer end is provided with a tooth 62 der tension of a spring 63, saidt'ooth 'en'gg ing a 'shoulder or tooth 64 on the latch.

arm 59 is adapted to operate a. level-.65,

when said arin is releasedby the latch -58 and is free to tu'ri'ijiinderthea pressure of its y spring. The lever 65` is pi\ by a link 66 witha leverv 67 which has a pin lying in a groove of the vpulley hub' 69, the said lever 67 being pressed by a sy tallyl connected i Y ring 68.

With the parts incthe position s ownn Fig. 2, the members of the clutch are in engagement as shown at 70, the lever 65 being' pin 71 thereon bearing againstf'the sto spring 72. supposing now that the let o linger or arm 36 is operated, the pin 57 will` be removed from over the latch 58 and the spring 61 willthen exert its force, throwing the arm 59 .to the left in Fig. 5, and bringing a a pin 74 o the lever 65,'thi1s turning the said lever on its. pivot 75, which results in drawin upon the link'GGj and turning the lever 6 in prope direction to Withdraw the clutch alle from the member of the clutch whic is xed on the drive shaft, thel pulley then running loosely with its clutch member and the machine coming to rest The lever 65 may be operated by either Iof the handles 76. It wil be noted that the pin 74 standsoff slightly from theprojection 73 of the striking arm so that this arm iigheld in the position indicated by thestop.

rejection 73 of said' arm against ispo izo

' Y naar avanzar@ COE* y menare will not strike the pin 74 lnntil after it has performed `fe part. of its stroke. In resetting the parts it is 'only necessary to turn the lever 65 in 'the vdirection 'of the arrow Fig 2, the pin 74 thrusting the arm 59 back maybe employed, such for instance as a i brake block, indicated in dotted lines at 77, upon which bears a block 78 pivotally mounted on the lower end ofthe stem of the arm 59 so that as this arm is turned. the

block 78 will press upon the block 77 and throw this against the edgeof the revolving .portion of the knitting hea-d. `The gravity 'latch has `a tooth at 64, andwhen the tooth- 62 of the striking arm 59 is in engagement with the tooth 64: the brake will be held oli from contact vwith the knitting head so in the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be' lso that this may be rotated freely by hand, it being understood that at this time the clutch 70 is out of engagement. W'ith the parts noticed that the centers 75, 7l and 7l are out of lineand thus the parts will be .locked in this position and it will be necessary to move the'` center 7l across the line of the centers 75 and 7l in order to allow the spring (58 to act in `releasing the clutch.

It will be seen that by reason of the pin .74 of the hand lever being located at some distance away from the face'of the rojection 7 3 of the striking arm 59 that the hand lever can turn lin the direbition of the arrow and this motion will besiiii'icilent to release the clutch by hand theispriiig 72 yielding for this purpose but bringing the lparts back l to the position shown when pressure ofy the hand lever is released: .By thisA 'the clutch can be thrown out withbut it being neces# sary to throw the hand lever to the reverse position from that shown in Fig. 2.

Reverting tothe needle detector, it will be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, that this de'- pends normally in substantially vertical position down along the side of the dial cap and it is pivoted to swing substantially in the' direction of the needle row leftwardr from this vertical position when it strikes a snarl or. bunch. It is rendered extremely sensitive because, however slight Vits movement from a vertical position the springflfl will be rendered eii'ective to throw the detector finger all the Way to the left in Fig.

1, so that it will clear the obstruction and' at the same time thearm 50'Will be thrown up against the rod ,34 to operate the let o connections. .The movement necessary to` bring,r thesytgring 54 into full play need only be siiiiicie i said rin to/ move the center 44: out of to effect engagement of said dog with the ring, a let-oli' device and connections bctvveen the ring and the let-ofi` device to op erate the latter when the ring is moved by the dog, substantially as described.

2. ln combination in a circular knitting machine, having ajixed needle carrier and revolving cams, a ring arranged concentric with the knitting head, and normally at rest, a needledetector, aconnection leadino' from a stop motion, a member revolving with the movable part of the knitting head, engagement between the said member and the ring being effected by either the stop motion connection or the needle detector, substantially as described.

3. ln combination in a circular knitting machine, having a fixed needle carrier and revolving cams, a ring arranged concentric with the knitting head, and normally at rest, a needle detector, a connection leading from a stop motion, a member "revolving with the movable part of the knitting head, engagement between the. said member and the ring being eiiected by either the stop motion connection or the needle detector, being located above the needle head anV connections leading up from the needle detector to the :said member, substantially as described. j

4c. 'ln combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed cylinder, dial and dial post, a ixed framering surrounding the dial post, a rotary yarn earner together with shifting locking means for the dial post, located within-the frame ring, and con` necting.. the 'same with. the dial, a bobbin v stand su'rmounting the frame ring and the a let-oli ring said parts within the saine, also surmountin 'the frame ring and surrounding/thebo bin stand, a device external to. and moving with the bobbin stand for engaging the let-0E ring, means controlled by the yarn or knitting to control the said device, and connections operated by the said let-oil' rin'g, substantially as described.

5. InA combination with a knitting machine, a. pivoted needle detector finger, a'

springfpressed 'arm and a link connection' between' the spring pressed arm and the linger, -the pivotal points between the llink and the arm and detector being substantially in line Whenvthe detector finger is in opera,

and arm being in line when the detector` finger is in normal position, an arm on thel rock shaft and let-off connections operated by the said arm, snbstai tially as described.

7. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a normally stationary let-ofi' ring having a series of.pro]ections, a latch carried by a rotary part of the machine to engage any one of said projections to revolve' the ring, stop motion coxnnectionsfor oper- "ating the latch, and let-off connections operated bythe ring, onepart of said stop motion connections consisting of a radially movable rod, a vertical rock shaft, a connection between said rock shaft and rod, said parts leading to connections overhead,

and ya. needle detector with a vertically mov- I able rod between the same and the latch, said latch being operated either by the radial movement of one rod or the vertical move-v ment of the other, substantially -as de'- scribed.

8. In combination in a circular knitting machine having a viixed needle carrier and revolving cams, a ring arrangedconcentric with the knitting head, and normally. at rest, a pivoted dog carried on and revolving with a movable part of the knitting head, said dog having a portion to engage and move the ring, a vertically sliding rod` to operate the dog, a horizontally sliding rod also arranged to operate the pivoted dog, a stop motion connection for operating the horizontal rod, needle detector mechanism for operating the vertical rod, and let-off connections operated vby the movement of the ring, substantially as described. In testimony whereof, We afiixy our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK B. WILDMAN. GEORGE LAWSON BALLARD. Y

Witnesses:

OWEN BALLARD, EDITH C. FRICK.. 

